David Andrews’ Grieving Family Speaks Out

David Andrews

He was the baby of their family, the apple of his mother’s eye. Ramona Carcamo, a vendor known as “Mama Chula,” joins the long list of grieving Belize City mothers after the untimely death of her son David Andrews on Christmas Eve night. Andrews’ family says he was shot four times – once in the neck, twice in the arm and once in his side. He leaves behind his grieving parents and three siblings. But behind the tears and anger we witnessed on Central American Boulevard this morning was that deathless question – why? It has not yet been answered, but News Five reporter Aaron Humes uncovered some clues.

Reporter

“As far as you are aware, was he in any issue with anybody, that kind of thing?”

Stephanie Andrews, Sister of David Andrews

“No, not that we know of; he wasn’t.”

Aaron Humes, Reporting

So then, why would anyone want nineteen-year-old David Andrews dead – and lure him to a dark corner to be shot as many as six times? The answer, his sister Stephanie believes, may lie in a previous threat of harm and his reaction to it.

Stephanie Andrews

“We only know he got a threat about three weeks ago; but to be honest, I don’t know what to really say when it comes to that, because we got the threat that something would happen to him, but we didn’t take it that serious because he wasn’t serious. We asked him, “David, have you done anything to anybody? Have you seen anything?” We tried to talk to him; we sat down in the room and I said, “David, have you done…” And he didn’t say anything; he never said anything, so I don’t know. Maybe if he was more serious that yes, his life was in danger, then of course we would have done something to protect him; but he wasn’t serious when it came to that. He said that no, he noh do anybody nothing and we shouldn’t believe that.”

Stephanie Andrews

David had been hanging out with Ramona Carcamo and other relatives at her food stand on the Boulevard, near Lucky Star Supermarket. He got a call and told his family he was going to take a drink for a friend nearby on Raccoon Street. But instead of hearing his voice around the lane, the family heard gunshots ring out. Responding family members found him lying already dead in front of the house that used to be the family home. It is a senseless end for a young man who loved everyone, his family most of all.

Stephanie Andrews

“He was a good person; there is nothing bad I could ever say about David. Every time he always tried to help; he was happy, he was happy with life. He loved my mom; my mom was his everything. He was a good person; I don’t see why they had any reason to shoot him and kill him like that; he didn’t deserve that. He was an amazing person.”

Police are sorting out the facts and looking for one person of interest, while trying to warn off others from retaliation.

“The information we have gathered is that two men came on a motorcycle – the motorcycle parked and one of them came off the cycle and approached the deceased and uttered a few words to him and then fired the shots and he got back on the cycle and then he drove off.”

Chester Williams

Andrea Polanco

“So, he was the intended target, sir?”

ACP Chester Williams

“From all the indications, yes he was. And we are looking for one person who we believe may be able to assist us in that investigation.”

Reporter

“Has a motive been established?”

ACP Chester Williams

“At this time we have not got a definitive motive, so we will not speculate. It is unfortunate that Mister Andrews was caught. We would have hoped that the outcome would have been different, but, thank God, no other person was injured in the process.”

Reporter

“Sir, and then retaliation. I know I have seen at least one person post on Facebook saying that retaliation will be forthcoming. And this person, I believe, is quite well known to you?”

ACP Chester Williams

“Yes. I saw the post on Facebook and I immediately got to the person who posted it and I spoke to him and let him know that we are not going to tolerate any retaliation. And he assured me that he was angry when he made the post and that he took down the post which I later on saw he did. And that they would do their best to work with us and we believe the matter will be solved and we are working toward that.”

Reporter

“So, are you confident that you will be able to suppress any retaliation and there will not be any spiraling of violence as we close the year?”

ACP Chester Williams

“Well, we will continue to do what we normally do in terms of mediation and intervention between the rival groups.”

But the family has no thought of retaliation. Instead, they are hoping that justice will be served.

Stephanie Andrews

“The family will leave it up to God. We are not that type of family that will retaliate against anyone. God never sleeps, and he will see what needs to be done to those guys that did that to David. Like I said, he did not deserve that, and we will leave it to God. There is no reason for any of us to try and [avenge] anyone; because we don’t know who it is, one; and another thing is we believe in the Higher Power and he will do what needs to be done in order for David to rest in peace.”

Aaron Humes reporting for News Five.

Andrews will be laid to rest on Friday following a memorial Thursday evening in Belize City and church services at St. Ignatius R.C. on Basra Street.

Viewers please note: This Internet newscast is a verbatim transcript of our evening television newscast. Where speakers use Kriol, we attempt to faithfully reproduce the quotes using a standard spelling system.